What is your Longbow made of ? (wood choices)

[vics]

My son's longbow is, purpleheart, lemonwood and hickory,

[jaarus]

Sorry - this is a little off the original topic, but I am getting very close to committing myself to my first purchase and - well - its better to ask now isnt it!

DRAW LENGTH
On the recurve, I use 28" shafts as my draw is a smidge (technical term) under 28" so with the nock and pile added on it means I am about an inch forward of the button.
So I assumed I would be 28" with Longbow as well.
To be safe I just held a broom and drew one of my arrows with it on my knuckle and I overdrew completely, the arrow coming away in my hand.

Presumably this is because the draw is now slightly askew having to go 'around' the bow not through it.
So will my draw length still be 28" as far as a bow goes and just the arrows need to be a little bit longer?
Or will my actual draw length increase/decrease slightly compared to my recurve draw?

The bow is tillered 2 " more than stated for safety but of course I dont want to overstrain/understrain the bow right from the off.

-- I dont want to actually buy a bow for someone else

[Yew Selfbow]

Jaarus
If you have any clubmates that have a longbow ask if you can check your drawlength with their bow . Stick a nock on a 32inch shaft (or a garden cane will do) and ask if you can draw it back a couple of times. When your comfortable with the draw ask the bow owner to mark the shaft (or cane)at the belly of the bow and measure the length. This will give you a starting point for your arrow shaft length.
P,S. Don't forget to thank the owner of the bow.

[cloutman360]

Yew Selfbow,any chance of a photo of the Buchanan and the Aldred ? Please.


Miner Willy,Did you say purpleheart belly for one of your 2nd bow options ?

[Miner Willy]

Originally Posted by cloutman360

Miner Willy,Did you say purpleheart belly for one of your 2nd bow options ?

Yep, that's what I said. He's got a really dark piece of purpleheart which will do nicely as a belly with a lighter coloured purple heart core and a bamboo back. He's started roughing it out and he reckons it's gonna make a really fast bow, especially with a bamboo back. He is a little concerned about it fretting or chrysaling but he seems to think it's worth a shot. If it doesn't work out then I'll be having an osage number.

Essentially I wanted something a little different, I have a problem with the scarcity of Snakewood and using it even though it's truly beautiful wood. I've also seen quite a few shatter recently too. I thought purpleheart more or less throughout might be nice. I've seen a couple of purpleheart ELB's on American sites too so thought it might be worth a shot.

If it materialises I'll stick up a piccy or two, it should be with me in a week or two. (crosses fingers)

[clickerati]

Originally Posted by Miner Willy

Yep, that's what I said. He's got a really dark piece of purpleheart which will do nicely as a belly with a lighter coloured purple heart core and a bamboo back. He's started roughing it out and he reckons it's gonna make a really fast bow, especially with a bamboo back. He is a little concerned about it fretting or chrysaling but he seems to think it's worth a shot. If it doesn't work out then I'll be having an osage number.

Essentially I wanted something a little different, I have a problem with the scarcity of Snakewood and using it even though it's truly beautiful wood. I've also seen quite a few shatter recently too. I thought purpleheart more or less throughout might be nice. I've seen a couple of purpleheart ELB's on American sites too so thought it might be worth a shot.

If it materialises I'll stick up a piccy or two, it should be with me in a week or two. (crosses fingers)

You're making my heart flutter with all this talk of purplewood. Can't wait to see the photos!

[Yew Selfbow]

Originally Posted by cloutman360

Yew Selfbow,any chance of a photo of the Buchanan and the Aldred ? Please.

Sure Willy.. No problem.. if someone will tell me how to post images??

[kernowtom]

My bows
off ebay - first l/b - maple/cherry/lemonwood - shoots pretty well
by me from a kit - hickory/greenheart/lemonwood - tillering suspect but shoots fine
by a local bowyer - bamboo/hickory/maple/purpleheart/lemonwood - ever so pretty and exceptionally fast

Purpleheart is generally considered a good core wood (it is also cheap and pretty) but not generally considered suitable for a belly.

tom

[Miner Willy]

Originally Posted by kernowtom

...Purpleheart is generally considered a good core wood (it is also cheap and pretty) but not generally considered suitable for a belly.
tom

It would appear you are right. I got a call from my bowyer who said the the purpleheart belly on the bow had started Chrysaling, so it was a no-no unfortunately.

As a result I will be picking up my Osage, Purpleheart,Wenge and Bamboo longbow at the weekend. Can't wait.

[clickerati]

Originally Posted by kernowtom

bamboo/hickory/maple/purpleheart/lemonwood - ever so pretty and exceptionally fast

switch the bamboo and maple for yew and YEW'VE got my l/b

i'm intrigued by the use of maple as it's one of my favourite woods.